BOOK REVIEW: Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West by Dorothy Wickenden

Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West by Dorothy Wickenden is the story of Dorothy Woodruff (the author’s grandmother) and her close friend Rosamond Underwood. These were two Smith College educated women who ventured out West to the rural Colorado mountains to teach the children of homesteaders. Their adventure took place in the school year of 1916-17.

Brought up in Auburn, New York, they were well-to-do lifelong friends, who were not ready to settle down and marry according to family and societal expectations. So they answered an advertisement to become schoolteachers.

This is also the story of Ferry Carpenter, a wealthy Colorado lawyer and rancher, who was something of a local booster for his area. It was his idea to build the school and import young lady teachers. This was partly because the children needed schooling, but it was also a plan to bring eligible women to a place where they were scarce. Photographs were required for application and the applicants were judged more on looks than on credentials.

Finally, it is the story of Bob Perry, the son of a mine owner who had been brought up to take over the business. At a critical point in the year, he is kidnaped by disgruntled miners and undertakes a valiant escape.

The author gives short biographies of each of the main characters including the years running up to the women’s teaching experience and a summary of what happened to them afterward, but the bulk of the story takes place in that 1916-1917 time frame. It is packed with details about how life was lived. Smaller scale historical events are given more emphasis than larger ones, based on the focus of the women in their letters home. For example, there is comment on the re-election of President Wilson and of the build-up to WWI, but it’s just a passing mention. The women go to visit one of the Perry coal mines and the author mentions that there are ongoing labor issues, but this is pretty much seen from the perspective of Bob Perry so the problems of the miners are glossed over.

The women had been courted by men back home, especially Rosamond, who was an acknowledged beauty, but this was nothing compared to the stir they caused in Elkhead. Dorothy had already met her future husband and become engaged just before going to Colorado. Bob Perry and Ferry Carpenter both fell for Rosamond and became rivals for her affection.

The book is an interesting look at this time period and the hardscrabble lives of Colorado homesteaders through the lens of two plucky Eastern women.